Environment and Ecology: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Prelims)

Explanation

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was established in 1994. It is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. There are 197 Parties to the Convention, including 196 country Parties and the European Union. The Convention, based on the principles of participation, partnership and decentralization, is a multilateral commitment to mitigate the impact of land degradation. Its flag-ship publication includes Global Land Outlook.

Statement 1 is correct: Its 197 Parties aim, through innovative national schemes and global partnerships, to implement the Convention and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The end goal is to protect the land from overuse and drought, so it can continue to provide food, water and energy.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Convention addresses specifically the arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, known as the dry-lands, where some of the most vulnerable ecosystems and people can be found. It is not particularly focussed towards South Asia and North Africa region.

Statement 3 is correct: The UNCCD emphasizes a bottom-up approach, recognizing that sustainable land management is most effective when local communities are actively involved. It promotes the participation of local populations, particularly women and youth, in decision-making processes related to land management and desertification mitigation.

Explanation

Pairs 1 is incorrectly matched: Annex-I countries refer to developed countries listed under the Kyoto Protocol with binding commitments to reduce emissions. The Cartagena Protocol deals with biosafety and regulates the transboundary movement of living modified organisms (LMOs), not emissions reduction. Pairs 2 is incorrectly matched: Certified Emissions Reductions (CERs) are issued for emission reductions under the Kyoto Protocol, not the Nagoya Protocol. The Nagoya Protocol focuses on access to genetic resources and fair sharing of benefits, not emission reductions.

Pair 3 is correctly matched: The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the UNFCCC enables developing countries to receive funds from developed nations for adopting technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The CDM is the main source of income for the UNFCCC Adaptation Fund, which was established to finance adaptation projects and programmes in developing country Parties to the Kyoto Protocol that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.

Explanation

The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) was launched by Germany and the European Commission in 2007. It is a global effort to raise awareness of the economic advantages of biodiversity. TEEB’s objective is to raise attention to the rising costs associated with biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation and to bring together experts in science, economics, and policy to facilitate actionable solutions.

Statement 1 is incorrect: It is an international initiative, launched by Germany and the European Commission. The second phase of the TEEB study is hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) with support from a number of other organizations.

Statement 2 is correct: It is an international initiative to draw attention to the global economic benefits of biodiversity. Its principal objective is to mainstream the values of biodiversity and ecosystem services into decision-making at all levels.

Statement 3 is correct: Its objective is to highlight the growing cost of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. It follows a structured approach to valuation that assists decision-mak-ers in recognizing, demonstrating, and capturing the value of ecosystems and biodiversity.

Explanation

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) is a mechanism developed by Parties to the UNFCCC. In order to provide incentives for developing countries to cut emissions from forested lands and invest in low-carbon paths, it sets a financial value for the carbon contained in forests. For activities based on results, the developing countries will be compensated. The UN-REDD Programme has identified the following three topics for supporting national REDD+ governance structures:

Country-led multi-stakeholder governance assessments that contribute to the development and implementation of national REDD+ strategies (for tackling forest degradation and biodiversity loss) and nationally owned monitoring frameworks Social standards, including poverty and gender. Land and/or carbon tenure and the role of REDD+ within national land use strategies The REDD+ goes beyond simply deforestation and forest degradation by including the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.

Explanation

Agenda 21 is a comprehensive action plan for sustainable development, adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), commonly known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. The number "21" refers to an agenda for the 21st century. It’s objective is to achieve Global sustainable development.

Statement 1 is correct: Agenda 21 serves as a comprehensive plan of action for sustainbility to be taken globally, nationally, and locally by organizations of the United Nations System, governments, and major groups in every area where humans im-pact the environment.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Agenda 21 is a product of the Earth Summit (UN Conference on Environment and Development) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), held in Johannesburg in 2002, reaffirmed the commitment to Agenda 21 and aimed to assess progress and implement further actions

Explanation

The Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) initiative, led by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), aims to identify and safeguard traditional agricultural systems worldwide. These systems are recognized for their unique landscapes, rich biodiversity, and the traditional knowledge of local communities. Three sites recognised as GI-AHS in India:

Kuttanad Below Sea Level Farming System of Kerala.

Koraput Traditional Agriculture of Odisha.

Pampore Saffron Heritage of Kashmir.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The GIAHS initiative supports the sustainability and viability of traditional agricultural system. However its primary goal is not to introduce modern technology or farming methods to enhance productivity. Instead, it focuses on preserving and promoting traditional practices that have proven sustainable over time.

Statement 2 is correct: The main objective of the GIAHS initiative is to recognize and protect traditional agricultural practices, along with their associated landscapes, biodiversity, and the cultural knowledge of local communities. This approach ensures the conservation of these systems for future generations.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The GIAHS designation does not automatically confer Geographical Indication (GI) status to agricultural products. While both GIAHS and GI aim to recognize and protect unique agricultural practices and products, they are separate initiatives with different objectives and processes. GI is accorded to products from a certain origin (e.g. Hyderabadi Biryani) and not to all traditional agricultural systems.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: Kharai camels have the remarkable ability to swim in seawater and feed on saline plants and mangroves. This adaptation gives them their name, "Kharai." They are considered the only domesticated camel breed that thrives in both marine and desert ecosystems. They were identified as a separate breed by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) in recent years.

Statement 2 is correct: Kharai camels are known to feed on mangroves and other salty marine plants found on offshore islands. To access this unique food source, they can swim for several hours in seawater.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Kharai camels are domesticated and play an essential role for local communities, often being used for transportation and various other purposes in the coastal and desert regions of Gujarat.

Explanation

‘Red Sanders’ are known for their rich hue and therapeutic properties. They are in high demand across Asia, particularly in China and Japan for use in cosmetics and medicinal products as well as for making furniture, woodcraft and musical instruments. The main threats that Red Sanders face are illicit felling for smuggling, forest fires, cattle grazing and other anthropogenic threats.

Statement 1 is correct: Red Sanders is an endemic tree species native to the Eastern Ghats, specifically found in the forests of Andhra Pradesh. It thrives in rocky, degraded, and fallow lands with red soil and a hot, dry climate.

Statement 2 is incorrect: It occurs in the forest formation which is classified as "Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests". The tree is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, due to over-exploitation of its timber and habitat loss. Efforts are being made to protect the tree’s habitats and to promote sustainable harvesting practices.

Explanation

India is home to nine hornbill species, about one-fifth of the 50+ species worldwide. While mainly frugivores, some also consume small mammals, reptiles, and birds. The Great Indian Hornbill primarily inhabits tropical evergreen forests and is found mostly in the Western Ghats and Nilgiris. It relies on large trees with cavities for nesting and roosting.

Explanation

An ecosystem can be defined as a functional unit of nature, where living organisms (producers, consumers, and decomposers) interact among themselves and also with the surrounding physical environment. Ecosystems can be of any size and usually encompasses a diverse range of species. E.g. Aquatic Ecosystem. In the ecosystem, biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows. Everything that lives in an ecosystem is dependent on the other species and elements that are also part of that ecological community. A damaged or extinct component of an ecosystem has an effect on the entire system.